The Watchman Newscast with Erick Stakelbeck

On today's Watchman Newscast, host Erick Stakelbeck highlights the alarming rise of Christian persecution around the world and interviews Petr Jasek, a Christian missionary who was thrown into prison in Sudan because of his faith--right alongside members of the notorious terrorist group, ISIS. How did Jasek survive being imprisoned with ISIS and will the severe persecution experienced by believers...

On today’s Watchman Newscast, host Erick Stakelbeck breaks down three major, developing Middle East stories: 1) Israel’s Mossad spy agency reportedly broke up an Iranian terror plot to attack Israeli citizens in Africa. 2) Iran-backed groups were reportedly behind an assassination attempt against Iraq’s Prime Minister over the weekend using explosive-laden drones. 3) The Iranian military is conduc...

On today's Watchman Newscast, host Erick Stakelbeck shares one of the world's great untold stories: how Iran--the world's number one state sponsor of terrorism--may also be home to the world's fastest growing church. Despite severe persecution, Iranians are increasingly turning to Christ. Even more stunning, the Iranian church is pro-Israel. Erick breaks down this incredible development with two p...

On today's Watchman Newscast, host Erick Stakelbeck breaks down news of another Israeli strike against Iran-linked forces near Damascus. How was this strike different than other recent Israeli actions and how did Israeli Prime Minister Nafatali Bennett's recent meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin play a role? Plus: with U.S and Israeli special forces conducting a joint military exercise...

On today's Watchman Newscast, host Erick Stakelbeck heads to the Israel/Syria border with former Israeli intelligence officer Avi Melamed. They get an up-close look at what Iran and its terror proxy Hezbollah are doing next door in Syria and show why the strategic Golan Heights region is a red line that Israel will not allow Iran to cross. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adcho...

On today's Watchman Newscast, host Erick Stakelbeck breaks down major military and civilian preparedness drills that Israel began this week in preparation for a coming northern war against Hezbollah. What did Israel learn from its May 2021 conflict with Hamas and how will those lessons factor into planning for its future showdown against Hezbollah? And how serious of a threat does Hezbollah pose t...

On today's Watchman Newscast, host Erick Stakelbeck visits Israel's ancient Biblical site of Tel Beit Shemesh with Danny "The Digger" Herman to see the place where it's believed the Ark of the Covenant was kept by the Israleites after it was returned by the Philistines, as described in 1 Samuel. Was the Ark really here and what have Israeli archaeologists uncovered? Learn more about your ad choice...

On today’s Watchman Newscast, host Erick Stakelbeck breaks down the latest moves by Turkey’s radical leader, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Erdogan’s government recently claimed that it had arrested 15 Israeli Mossad operatives and Erdogan also threatened to expel Western ambassadors—including from the U.S. As this NATO member nation drifts further into the embrace of Russia and Iran, is more conflict with...

On today's Watchman Newscast, host Erick Stakelbeck breaks down news that U.S. officials believe Iran was behind a drone attack on an American base in Syria last week. At least five drones packed with explosives struck the Al-Tanf base near Syria's border with Jordan. U.S. officials believe Iran supplied its proxies with the drones and helped coordinate the attack. What is Iran trying to accomplis...

On today's Watchman Newscast, host Erick Stakelbeck breaks down reports that Israeli helicopters struck Hezbollah targets in Syria overnight, near the Israel/Syria border. The strikes come just days after Israeli Prime Minister Nafatli Bennett met with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss Iran's presence in Syria. Did Putin give Israel a green light to continue strikes in Syria and can he r...

On today’s Watchman Newscast, host Erick Stakelbeck breaks down today’s important meeting in Russia between Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Their meeting comes as tensions continue to rise between Russia and Israel over Iran and Syria. What did the two leaders discuss during their five hours together and what’s next for the Russia/Israel relationship? L...

On today's Watchman Newscast, host Erick Stakelbeck breaks down Israel's largest-ever air force drill, taking place in the Negev desert through October 28th and including squadrons from the U.S, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Greece and India. As tensions rise between Israel and the Iranian regime, Iran is also holding a major air force drill today, showcasing its fighter jets and attack drones....

On today's Watchman Newscast, host Erick Stakelbeck breaks down Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah's boast that Hezbollah has 100,000 trained jihadi fighters in its ranks. Nasrallah was laying down the gauntlet to other groups in Lebanon, including Christians, to not think of challenging Hezbollah, as civil war looms in that country. But is his 100 K number accurate? Meanwhile, the Israeli g...

On today's Watchman Newscast, host Erick Stakelbeck breaks down China's reported recent test of a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile. The Financial Times reports that U.S. intelligence officials were stunned when China conducted the test in August. Hypersonic missiles travel at low altitudes and at extremely high speeds that enable them to evade missile defense systems. China's communist regime is...

On today's Watchman Newscast, host Erick Stakelbeck breaks down Iran's boast this week that it's developed it's own version of Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system. Plus, speaking of missile defense, Russia is accusing Israeli fighter jets of using civilian airliners as cover in order to evade Syrian air defenses Wednesday night and strike Iranian targets near the city of Palmyra. Is this ano...

On today's Watchman Newscast, host Erick Stakelbeck breaks down the deadly clashes today that took place at a Hezbollah rally in Beirut. Why is Hezbollah so determined to stop the investigation into last year's massive Beirut port blast and will today's deadly violence help drive the country towards another bloody civil war? And what are Iran's role and the ramification for Lebanon's southern neig...

On today's Watchman Newscast, host Erick Stakelbeck breaks down who will be Iran's next Supreme Leader. With Ayatollah Khamenei at an advanced age and in poor health, is the Iranian regime preparing a successor? Who are the likely candidates and what would Khamenei's death mean for Iran, the region and the world? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's Watchman Newscast, host Erick Stakelbeck is joined in Jerusalem by the man who designed Israel's border security fence, former Israel Defense Forces Col. Danny Tirza. How did Israel's security fence put a stop to Palestnian suicide bombers and what can Israel teach America about border security? As the crisis deepens at America's southern border, Tirza shares how Israel's measures have...

On today's Watchman Newscast, host Erick Stakebeck breaks down an important speech on Monday, October 11th by Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who announced that Israel has a national plan to build up the strategic Golan Heights region and increase its population substantially. Bennett said Iran is attempting to build an army in Syria, along the Golan, and that Israel will not allow it. Plu...

On today's Watchman Newscast, host Erick Stakelbeck is joined by Ze'ev Orenstein of the City of David to break down a fascinating discovery announced this week by Israeli archaeologists: a 2,700 year old toilet found inside the remains of an ancient royal palace in Jerusalem. What does this ancient "royal flush" tell us about life in Jerusalem for the powerful during Old Testament times? Learn mor...

On today's Watchman Newscast, host Erick Stakelbeck and Israeli archaeologist and tour guide Danny "The Digger" Herman visit the ancient caves of Qumran, deep in Israel's Judean Desert, to learn more about the origin of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Who were the Essennes and what was their connection to the Scrolls-- and John the Baptist? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's Watchman Newscast, host Erick Stakelbeck breaks down new details surrounding an Iranian terror plot against Israeli businesspeople in Cyprus. Was this a failed attempt by Iran to avenge the assassantion of the father of its nuclear weapons program, Moshen Fakhrizedah, last November? And did Israel really kidnap and interrogate an Iranian general--as one Arabic-language media source has...

On today's Watchman Newscast, host Erick Stakelbeck breaks down new reports that Iran was behind a recent terror plot to murder Israeli businesspeople on the island of Cyprus. Is Iran accelerating its global terror war against Israel? Plus, China and Russia are making provocative military moves. Are these U.S. adversaries emboldened to act in the wake of America’s disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal...

On today's Watchman Newscast, host Erick Stakelbeck breaks down comments from a top Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman that the war between Iran and Israel "has already started." Along those lines, an explosion reportedly struck a secret Iranian missile factory this week, killing two members of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps. And Iran is increasingly threatening Muslim nations that have friendl...

On today's Watchman Newscast, host Erick Stakelbeck is in Jerusalem with Israeli archaeologist and tour guide, Danny "The Digger" Herman, for a visit to the ancient Southern Steps of the Temple Mount. It's a site where Jesus walked, taught and very likely chased out the money changers 2,000 years ago, as described in the Gospels. Find out why it's still significant today for every Christian. Learn...